The entirety of this discourse was such that it encouraged the kind of ascendancy for a man like Ayatollah Khomeini.
AKBAR GANJIThe entirety of this discourse was such that it encouraged the kind of ascendancy for a man like Ayatollah Khomeini.
AKBAR GANJIWe have two kinds of oppression. Oppression that is universal – everyone in Iran is subject to it. But everyone has also their own, unique way of experiencing this oppression.
AKBAR GANJISupporters of the national front, Mosaddeq, believe that in Iran, we don’t have a nationalities problem, we don’t have an ethnic problem.
AKBAR GANJIYou cannot bring democracy to a country by attacking it.
AKBAR GANJII have spent six years in prison, the last six years. Even if I was outside the prison, how much actual space was there for an investigative journalist to do his work in Iran?
AKBAR GANJIThe most important dichotomy that I make for a society is between those who support democracy and human rights, and those who oppose it.
AKBAR GANJIThe difference between us and the other side is that they use populist and…kind of slogans that are…they fool the people.
AKBAR GANJIWhat I’m worried about is that, in case that happens [nuclear explosion], then the Iranian people are the ones who are going to pay the heaviest price. But none of the Western countries have seriously talked about this.
AKBAR GANJIWe must struggle for creating a democratic system that is dedicated to democracy and human rights.
AKBAR GANJIThe Shah’s regime was an incorrigible regime and after a while, when the revolution happened.
AKBAR GANJIReligion is the private affair of an individual…be present in the public domain, but state has to be clearly separated from religion.
AKBAR GANJIEven theories of secularism are constantly being revised and changed.
AKBAR GANJIWe should put away the militaristic outlook.
AKBAR GANJIWell-to-do classes are using all kinds of obvious and not-so-obvious benefits that this regime has created for it.
AKBAR GANJIThe issue has two dimensions. One is the legal dimension and the other one is the issue at the realpolitik. [In the] legal realm.
AKBAR GANJIKhomeini obviously had many problems, but he had one clever side to him.
AKBAR GANJI